Land Surveying in Georgia

Surveying has played a large role in Georgia sincethis organization was founded in 1947 and is
before statehood. Georgia's land surveyors haveaffiliated with the American Congress on
been instrumental in shaping the state, fromSurveying and Mapping (ACSM), a national society
power shifts before the Revolutionary War tofor surveyors. There are currently over five
policies regarding land distribution in the earlyhundred professional members of SAMSOG.
nineteenth century, to rebuilding the state in theThe role of the Surveying and Mapping Society
aftermath of the Civil War.includes scholarships and information for aspiring
The first surveys begun in what would becomesurveyors, as well as continuing education
the state of Georgia were conducted by Spanishopportunities for current surveyors, who are
explorers who charted the coastline. Next, Frenchrequired to obtain fifteen hours of continuing
Jesuits would survey the lands further inland. Oneeducation study over each two-year period to
of the first British settlers, Dr. Henry Woodard,renew their land surveying license. Other
would later be credited with mapping and exploringresources for current or aspiring surveyors include
much of present-day Georgia. Later surveyingconferences, discussion forums, and publications
efforts were related to land distribution followingsuch as "Georgia Land Surveyor," released six
the Revolutionary War, followed by rebuildingtimes per year with articles pertaining to
infrastructure that had been destroyed during thesurveying in the state of Georgia. The Annual Plat
Civil War. During the depression of the 1930s,Contest rewards land surveyors who create
thousands of unemployed land surveyors wereexemplary plat maps of Georgia lands.
put to work surveying the entire state. As aSAMSOG also works to strengthen and refine the
result, Georgia was the first state in the countryland surveyor profession through work with the
to have a complete survey of all boundaries andGeorgia State Legislature, the State Board of
land, with complete measurements andRegistration for Professional Engineers and Land
monuments.Surveyors, and national surveying groups such as
Since 1937, all professional surveyors within theACSM and the American Land Title Association
state of Georgia have been governed by the(ALTA). Bills passed at the urging of SAMSOG
Georgia State Board of Registration forinclude recording plats in superior courts,
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Thismonument protection, and improvement in the
agency has the power to adopt standards forcounty surveyor's laws. The Surveyors
licensure and practice. Surveyors who do notReference Manual for Georgia Land Surveyors,
follow the accepted land surveying standards areoriginally made available over 20 years ago, is
subject to investigation and discipline by the Board.currently being updated as a professional manual
Many land surveyors in Georgia also join thefor modern surveyors in Georgia, outlining
Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia, aregulations and practices for surveys within the
voluntary professional organization founded tostate. SAMSOG was also instrumental in the
support the interests of professional mappers anddrafting of a professional code of conduct for
surveyors within the state. Known as SAMSOG,surveyors.